How to Remove Paint from Wood Floor Tiles
As careful as you are when you paint, getting some spots on your hardwood floor here and there is pretty common. The best way to remove paint from wood floors is to wipe it up while the paint is still wet. That’s sometimes hard to do, especially if you don’t notice it right away. Maybe you just moved into a new home or apartment and it has existing paint stains on the floor.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to have your hardwood floors replaced or re-finished. There are many ways to remove paint stains from wood floors. Below are seven techniques on how to remove paint from a wood floor.
1. Soap and Water
One of the best ways on how to remove paint from wood floor tiles is with good old-fashioned soap and water. Try using good old soap and water to remove your paint stain, but make sure the paint is water-based. If it’s not, this method won’t work.
If the paint is water-based, add a drop of dish soap to a damp piece of paper towel and start to rub the stain for a few minutes. Once the stain is wet enough and the paint starts to come off, you can use a dry cloth to wipe it up.
If you see any spots are left, try scraping the rest. If this doesn’t work, try one of the below methods on how to remove paint from wood floors.
2. Rubbing Alcohol
To remove paint stains with rubbing alcohol, first scrape off as much paint as you can. Next, pour some rubbing alcohol into a bowl and then soak a rag in the alcohol. Once you’ve soaked the rag for a few minutes, apply it to the stain and rub it until it’s dissolved.
There may be a reason why rubbing alcohol doesn’t work to remove paint from wood floors, especially with oil-based paints. Remember that oil-based paint is always more difficult to remove than latex paint because it’s harder.
3. Heat Gun
If you don’t want to use a solvent to remove the paint, you can always use a heat gun. To do this, point the heat gun about three inches away from the stain for about 10 to 20 seconds. While you do this, also scrape the paint away. The heating gun will soften the paint and make it easy to scrape away. This is a good method to try if you have oil-based paint since this paint dries really hard.
If you don’t have access to a heat gun, you can always use a hairdryer. Both a heat gun and a hairdryer have similar characteristics, making them effective to remove paint from a wood floor. Once you’ve removed all the paint, you can use a wet cloth to wipe the paint away and you’re all done!
4. Paint Remover
There are many products at your local hardware store that remove paint stains like Goof-Off Paint Remover or OOPS! Pick one of these products up then bring it home and try it out.
To use paint remover, put some on a cotton ball and apply it to the stain. Next up, just leave the solvent on the stain so it can soak in for about 15 minutes (read the directions on the product you pick up as all instructions are a little bit different).
After this, take a cloth and the paint should be dissolved enough that you can just wipe it up with a cloth. When you have removed the paint, your wood flooring will look clean and pristine again.
5. Cleansing Pads
You can use this method to remove paint from the wood floor. Stop by your local pharmacy and buy cleansing face pads that are designed to treat acne. These pads will have some acid in them which is what will help you remove the paint from your wood floors.
To use this method, take the pad and scrub at the stain with some pressure. Keep using fresh pads as they dry out until all of the paint is removed. Then, use a cloth to wipe away any excess paint and you’re all done!
6. Rubbing Alcohol and Lemon Juice
We covered using rubbing alcohol above. Another method is to use rubbing alcohol and lemon juice. This is especially helpful for latex paint. To do this, mix ¾ of a cup of rubbing alcohol with ¼ of a cup of lemon juice.
After you’ve scraped off what you can from the floor, use a toothbrush dipped in the rubbing alcohol and lemon juice and rub the stain with it.
7. Paint Thinner
If all else fails, use a paint thinner. Note that this method should only be used as a last resort as it can potentially damage your wood floor. If your paint is water-based, this isn’t the right solution to use. You’ll want to make sure that while you’re working with paint remover to keep the area well ventilated, so open a window or use a fan.
To use paint thinner to remove a paint stain from your floor, first, soak a cloth in a bowl of paint thinner. Then, rub the cloth over the stain until it dissolves. Keep applying more paint thinner as the cloth dries. Don’t forget to wipe the stain remover clean once you’re done.
